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Doug Batchelor: Hello friends, this is Doug Batchelor. How about an amazing fact? In August 1814 America nearly lost their Independence from Great Britain. The British army had successfully broken through the National Defense of lines and set fire to the US federal buildings all across Washington DC. This was the first time since the American Revolutionary war that a foreign power had captured and occupied the United States Capitol.

This was also when Dolley Madison and her servants famously save the Gilbert Stuart portrait of George Washington, and a copy of the Declaration of Independence before they fled in nearby George Town. Moral among the American soldiers was devastated and they have seemed to lost their will to fight. It looked as though The United States was about to fall back into the hands of British Empire. Then, suddenly dark clouds gathered bringing a freak storm and the first ever recorded tornado in the city's history. Along with the torrential down pour of rain, the twister rampage through the capitol.

The whirlwind disseminated the British Army, damaged their ships and at the time put out most of the fires they had set. Totally changing the course of war and helping to save the fledgling nation. As a result, the British occupation of Washington lasted only 26 hours. Friends, the Bible says this was not the first time that God had use wild weather to deliver a Nation. Stay with us, we're going to learn more as Amazing Facts brings you this edition of Bible Answers Live.

[PROGRAM INTRODUCTION]

Pastor Doug: Welcome listening friends to Bible Answers Live. This program is just as it sounds, a live interactive international bible study. If you have a Bible question, we have lines open. Give us a call. Free phone call, are you ready? 800-463-7297. That's 800GODSAYS, that makes it easier to remember. 800-463-7297 will bring your bible question in to our studio. Good time to pick up the phone now, we've got several lines open at the top of the program. Invite you to call in with your bible questions or questions you might have about the Christian life. My name is Doug Batchelor.

Jean Ross: My name is Jëan Ross, Good evening Pastor Doug and listening friends. Let's begin the program with a word of prayer. Dear Father once again we thank you that we can gather together and study your word. We ask a special blessing upon those who are listening wherever they might be and Father as many in the Christian World today are turning their attention to the great story and truth of the Resurrection of Jesus, we just ask that Holy Spirit will come and guide our minds as we search the scriptures. For we ask this in Jesus name, Amen.

Pastor Doug: Amen.

Pastor Ross: Pastor Doug you open the program about talking about a remarkable storm that turned that the tide in the war. That's the war of Independence here in the US. But prior to the program we were also talking on how that weather influenced a very pivotal battle in the second World War. The famous D-Day invasion.

Pastor Doug: That's right when they were crossing the English Channel, initially they weren't expecting the foul weather and it made a lot of the allied soldiers seasick. But it really proved to their advantage because Rommel saying-- thinking that they would never launch an attack in that kind of foggy stormy weather. He left their front lines and went home for his wife's birthday.

The other troops that were guarding that Western Wall of Europe, they also were very relaxed and some had gone in land. It came as a surprise, but in the Bible you can actually find examples where more than once God used his arsenal of the weather to give a victory to his people and to defeat their enemies. One example I think of is in the book of Joshua chapter 10, you can start with verse 10, and it's there in the battle with the Ammonites. Actually it was the Amorites.

The Lord routed them before Israel killed them with a great slaughter at Gibeon, chase them along the road that goes to Beth-Horn and struck them down as far as Azekah and Makkedah. It happened as they fled before Israel, and were on the descent of Beth-Horn and that the Lord cast out a large hailstones from heaven on them as far as Azekah and they died. There were more who died from the hailstones than the children of Israel killed with the sword. As their enemy was escaping, there was a hailstorm that did not hit the Israelites but it seem to just stay right over the Amenities.

There is other times you can think of in history where weather has-- during the Spanish Armada, is another example I think of. Spain had the biggest assembly of ships beside D-Day that had ever been assemble to attack England. England was vastly outnumbered and a Hurricane came through, washed them back into the coast of Europe. More than once the Lord has used as I said the arsenal of weather to save. As we're thinking about these wars and how people can even be converted through some of the circumstances of a war, there's a wonderful book that Amazing Facts has not given out in some time.

That is just-- it's a true story of a person's conversion because of the testimony of a drummer boy on the battlefield of the civil war. It's an amazing story and we'll send it to anyone that wants it for free. Want to tell us about that Pastor Ross?

Pastor Ross: The number to call for our free offer this evening, is 800-835-6747 and the book is called, The Drummer Boy's Prayer. Just a real inspiring story. As a matter of fact, read it and then share it with somebody else. Just a great inspiring testimony of how a life was changed. The number again is 800-835-6747 and the book is called, The Drummer Boy's Prayer. You can call and ask for that or you can read the book online at amazingfacts.org. If you have a Bible question, the number to call here to the studio is 800-463-7297, got some lines open. The number again, 800-463-7297. I'd love to hear from you this evening. We're going to go to the phone line, our first caller is Keith and he is listening in Iowa. Keith, welcome to the program.

Keith: Hello Pastors.

Pastor Doug: Good evening, how are you doing?

Keith: I'm okay and you?

Pastor Doug: Doing great.

Keith: My question is in a Bible commentary under Leviticus 23:10. It says that three men were selected to cut down the first fruits, and in 1st Corinthians 15:20, it talks about Christ being our first fruit. Judas, Caiaphas the high priest, and Pilate?

Pastor Doug: I can't really comment on the commentary because there's probably a hundred of commentaries on the bible in this verses and some of them say different things. For our friends that are listening, the first fruits that Keith is talking about and that you find mentioned at least in one place is in the book of Leviticus chapter 23 verse 10. During their harvest, they show that they believed everything belonged in God, they would cut down the first sheaves of the harvest and present them to the Lord. It was also to be the best. Otherwise, they didn't cut down stuff that was not developed or it was inferior wheat or whatever it happened to be.

Christ was the first fruit. The bible says of them that slept, that rose from the dead. The word first fruits there is talking about not just something that is first and priority, but it is talking about first in greatness or quality. The bible says that the first born of every creature was to be consecrated to the Lord. Jesus being the first who was raised from the dead, never to die again. Jesus resurrected many and even Elijah and Elisha resurrected some in the Old statement they died again. Christ was the greatest of those who were raised and he was also the greatest quality of those who were raised. Being the son of God because had died for our sins.

Now, the question I think Keith is asking is, the commentary said that there were three that were to go out and cut down the first fruits. That maybe three among the priest and that could be true. If that's true, in the Old testaments since Christ was the first fruit, would the three possibly be Caiaphas, Judas and who is the third?

Keith: Pilate

Pastor Doug: Pilate? I'd never thought of that. Could be, but we're talking about analogies now. They would be the ones-- the problem I would have with that is the priest that cut down the first fruits in the Old Testament, they were good guys. The ones who cut down Christ that you're mentioning, they are bad guys. [laughs] But I see what you mean. They are the ones who are responsible, three individuals that were especially responsible for his being condemned.

Pastor Ross: Of course, as you mentioned pastor, that the first fruits is a symbol of the resurrection that happens when Jesus comes the second time. We have a book talking about the second coming of Jesus, and talking about that glorious resurrection morning, when the dead in Christ will arise. We'll send it to anybody who calls and ask for it, it's just a really inspiring book. It's called, Anything But Secret. It's about the second coming of Jesus.

The number of call is 800-835-6747, that is the resource line. You can ask for the book Anything But Secret. Also, you can read it online for free at the amazing facts website, at amazingfacts.org. We have Ginny listening in Washington. Ginny, welcome to the program.

Ginny: Hi, can you hear me?

Pastor Ross: You're on the air.

Pastor Doug: Yes, loud and clear.

Ginny: Okay. I have a question about the sacrifice for sin. I was studying in the Old Testament and I saw that they had two lambs that were chosen, one was sacrificed, the other one was a scapegoat that was sent off into the wilderness. My friends says that they both represented Christ, but I don't see how that can be. He said well the one that was sent off in the wilderness carried our sins just like Jesus carried our sins. Then the other one was sacrificed for our sins. I'm a bit confused that there will be the scapegoat is actually representing--

Pastor Doug: All right, you're correct there that they were goats. First you said lambs, they were actually goats. This is a common disagreement among many Christians. There are two goats, there's no question and by the way, you find this friends in Leviticus 16. It was a special ceremony held at the end of the Jewish year better known as Yom Kippur or the Day of Atonement, where they had two goats. You can read right here in Leviticus 16:8, it says, "Then Aaron shall cast lots for the two goats, one lot for the Lord and the other for the scapegoat.

And Aaron shall bring the goat on which the Lord's lot fell and offered as a sin offering. But the goat on which the lot fell, shall be the scapegoat." Obviously one is the Lord's goat and one is not. The Lord's goat dies, that would represent Jesus who died for our sins. The scapegoat was carried into the wilderness and he was let go. It was a bad omen if he ever came back. Some traditions say that whoever carried it into the wilderness, he would be defiled and he would kick it off at a cliff somewhere to make sure it didn't come back.

Many believed that that really represent Satan. When Satan is cast into the lake of fire. Now see, Jesus died for the sins of the world, but Satan also bears guilt for the sins that he inspired. He's going to be cast into that lake of fire. It says in Revelations 20. The Lord's goat is the one that dies. He is sacrificed, his blood is applied. The blood of the scapegoat is not applied. We believe represent the two opposite poles in the battle between good and evil. One is Dragon, one's Michael, one's the Lord's goat, and one is the scapegoat, or representing the devil. Some Christians disagrees on that but that's my understanding. I don't know if you have anything to add. Do we-- Pastor Ross-

Ginny: Definitely, I thought it would be.

Pastor Doug: Yes, we have a lesson actually that talks about that. You sound like you could be driving but the lesson is, I think, God set a date for the judgement. It talks about this, God set a date for the judgment-- we'll send you a free copy. You can read it online at the Bibleuniverse.com.

Pastor Ross: The number to call is 800-835-6747. That again is the resource line. You can ask for the book, the lesson called, God Sets A Date For The Judgement. It's all about the sanctuary and the significance of that day of atonement at Yom Kippur Day that we're talking about. Our next call is Gardner, he's listening from Yonkers, New York. Gardner, welcome to the program.

Gardner: Good evening Pastor. The past few years I've been engaged in a home study Bible course with a Sabbath Church. I just received my certificate last week with about 900 questions. A lot of things troubled me but just because something troubled you, it doesn't mean that it's not true. One of the things that they taught was Isaiah 65:20. They teach that not everyone is being called in this dispensation, only a small group. That Isaiah 65:20 says that the people who didn't do right in this life, people who didn't keep the Sabbath, the people who never heard of Christ, that Isaiah 65:20 says that they will be resurrected mortal people back into their regular body.

That if they died when they was 80, that they will be resurrected as an 80-year-old person. That does say a hundred years in that verse. They teach that these people which are-- the multitude of people, that they will live a hundred years, so if you died when you're 80, you will live to be 180 to show Christ that now you're willing to obey him. Of course, this is during the Millennium which Satan will be bound. Most people and myself-

Pastor Doug: That's an incorrect interpretation.

Gardner: Okay.

Pastor Doug: Let me, I have an educated guess of who that might be but that's not what the Bible means. Isaiah is talking of course about heaven, because he's very clear when he says I created a new heaven and a new Earth in that chapter. When it says no more shall an infant from there live but a few days, nor an old man who has not fulfilled his days. It's basically saying, there won't be a problem there with premature death of children. Or an old person, a person that hasn't-- dying because they haven't had a full life.

For it says the child will die a hundred years old. Now that word die there actually can also be translated cease. That means a child will not even cease to be a child until it's a hundred years old. But the sinner being a hundred years old, even after a hundred years, the sinners are still accursed, they're gone. They're not there. Now, when you read in Genesis, before there were sin, I mean shortly after man stopped eating from the tree of life, the life span was hundreds of years. People we're not even getting married until they were a hundred years old or longer.

That's why slowly as lifespans shortened, children began to mature more quickly. They got married younger and younger and younger. In heaven, when things are restored, those who are resurrected as children in heaven, the children that die are not raised as adults. When they're resurrected in heaven, they will grow up and they will grow up slowly as God originally plans so that youth could be enjoyed. It's not saying a child will die a hundred years old. It's saying they won't even cease to be a child. That's just a weakness in the translation word that's chosen there.

Gardner: Nobody is going to be resurrected back into their mortal bodies right?

Pastor Doug: No. The Bible says flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God. Everybody it says we're going to receive glorified immortal bodies and we actually have a lesson that talks about this on the subject of death and we'll be happy to send you a free copy of that.

Pastor Ross: The lesson is called, Are The Dead Really Dead? It talks about the resurrection as well. We'll send it to anybody who calls and ask. The number is 800-835-6747. The lesson is called Are The Dead Really Dead? Just call for that we're happy to send it you or you can read it online at the amazing facts website, amazingfacts.org. Our next caller is Mark, listening from Berrien Springs, Michigan. Mark, welcome to the program.

Mark: Hi. My question is regarding-- where the Bible talks about wanting to share faith and to-- especially with our families, but at the same time, there's a text that says you don't want to cast your pearls before swine. I wonder if there's something in the Bible that gives discernment and wisdom to know the difference one way or the other.

Pastor Doug: Yes. That's a good question. If a person is going to despise when you share the truth, if when you make an effort to share the truth, they're just shutting you down, turning you off. Jesus, he never forced himself. When Christ invited people to follow and they didn't, he didn't chase after them and drag them.

He gave them the freedom to choose. As you pray for people and you try and share the truth with them, if they're spurning it and mocking it, then you pray for them and maybe wait for another opportunity. There's three things you can do for people biblically. That you love and you want to reach.

There's really only three things or maybe four that fall into this category. One is, if they're open you share information with them. That can be a bible study, it could be a DVD, it could be a website, it could be just sharing truth. If they're not open, then you pray for them. You also third, try to be a good witness, and the fourth thing is, you do it patiently. Do those other three things patiently. Those are really the only things you can do. You have to evaluate if a person's open, if they're not, you could be casting your pearls before swine.

There's another way that you can end up casting your pearls before swine. I know I'll probably get letters on this. Your life is made of time. If your time is gone, your life is gone. Time is one of the most precious if not the most precious resource everybody has. You have a limited amount of time. All of us are on a conveyor belt towards the grave, we've got to make the most of the time we have. There are people that the Lord sends us to witness to, and I think there are people the devil sends us to soak up our time like a black hole. And they will just take all your time and they will never produce. They're like that pig that was washed, and they go back to wallowing in the mire.

I think you just need to pray for the Holy Spirit to help you know how to set up boundaries for those people that the devil sends along to just distract you from the big mission. You never want to call anybody a dog or a pig. That's the analogy Jesus used, but they will gobble up your precious time and your life and never change, they just want your attention. It's a delicate issue but you need to make that decision.

Mark: Okay, thank you.

Pastor Doug: All right, thanks appreciate the question. We do have a free book that talks about knowing the will of God and it talks a little about this issue in there we'll be happy to send you a copy Mark.

Pastor Ross: The number to call, 800-835-6747, you can ask for the book, Knowing the Will ofGod. We'll be happy to send that to you Mark or anyone who calls and asks. We have Jim listening from Kentucky. Jim, welcome to the program.

Jim: Hello.

Pastor Doug: Evening, you're on the air.

Jim: I have a question about tattoos, and I'm not talking about in the sense of using your body as the canvas, more specifically it comes from Isaiah Chapter 44:5, and I know there's a mandate meticulous about not tattooing yourself and all that, but very specifically it talks about a time after Jesus was first coming across to a where the unification of the Jews and the Gentiles had either happened or was happening, and that verse talks about, "Some are going to be called by my name, some by Jacob's name, and some will actually tattoo my name on their wrist.

That word wrist could be arm, wrist, armpit, there's a multitude of places to be but it says specifically, property of God, if you were to translate it literally in our language. But I think it would be actually cool to have a very small tattoo on your wrist or somewhere, just to have that.

Pastor Doug: Now, let me-

Jim: I'm wondering what you thought about it.

Pastor Ross: I appreciate your question Jim, I'm glad you asked that. This is one of those cases where different translations say the verse differently. The New International Version, and that may be the version you're reading, it says in Isaiah Chapter 44:5, "Some will say I belong to the Lord, others will call themselves by the name of Jacob, still others will write on their hand, the Lord, and the name of Israel." Now listen to it in the New King James Version. "One will say I am the Lord, another will call himself by the name of Jacob, another will write with his hand, the Lord, and the name by the name of Israel." It doesn't say write on his hand, it says right with his hand.

In the original Hebrew, there wasn't always these connecting words. The translator had to say is it saying write with his hand, or write on his hand. A lot of translators are saying it isn't saying write on your hand, it's saying right with your hand. I still think that-

Jim: What would the context of that be in? Or why would you do that? Or how would you do that?

Pastor Ross: Well, they would put-- the High Priest for instance would wear a crown on his head that said, "Holiness to the Lord." And they would write that on their crown representing they belong to God.

Pastor Ross: There’s something else interesting you read about how that the law needs to be in the forehead, and also on the hand. The hand is a symbol of our works, the forehead is a symbol of our heart or our mind, and having the Lord's name, a symbol of his character and who he is in a hand means that we do those things that are in harmony with His will for our lives. Just like having his law written upon a hand or in our forehead.

Pastor Doug: Yes, matter of fact, that verse pastor Ross is quoting from, if you look in Deuteronomy chapter 6, he not only says, "These words I command you, shall be in your hand and between your eyes", He says, "they'll be written in your heart." Now I think you'd probably agree Jim, when Moses said that you're to write the 10 Commandments in your heart, that's symbolic.

Jim: [laughs] There was a term that-- I forgot what the term was but the Jews would tie it around the wrists and their foreheads-

Pastor Ross: The phylacteries. Yes, they take little segments of scripture and they tied them on the hand. That actually was a tradition. I don't think the Lord really ever-- He wanted them to have the word in their hearts, and their hands, and their head, but He didn't want them really to carry pieces of parchment around. They were taking an analogy a little too far. We appreciate your question and we actually have a lesson that talks about the Seal of God in the forehead, and you ask for that Jim, we'll send you a copy.

Pastor Ross: The number to call 800-835-6747, that is the resource line, and you can ask for the study guide called, The Seal of God. We'll be happy to send that to you Jim or anyone who calls. Also, if you have a Bible question, we have a line now that is open, the number is 800-463-7297. That's the phone number here to the studio 800-463-7297. Mario, is listening from Brooklyn, New York. Mario, welcome to the program.

Mario: Welcome Pastor Doug, Pastor Ross, happy Easter.

Pastor Doug: Likewise.

Mario:. My question is, before Saul became Saint Paul, did he personally witness the ministry of Jesus Christ or was Jesus our Lord revealed to Paul on his way to Damascus for the first time?

Pastor Doug: Good question. Well, we believe, first of all, when Saul appears in the story, in Acts Chapter nine, that's three and a half years after the cross. That's about 34AD. Most scholars, some Bibles even put that date in there. Saul had, at that point, he said he was a Pharisee before his conversion. To be a Pharisee, I think he had to be 30. He was a young man that they considered you a young man, he had been in Jerusalem studying at the feet of Gamaliel, the Bible says Gamaliel lived in Jerusalem, he was there for the council, Saul could not possibly have not heard about Jesus and his ministry prior to that.

We don't know if he had ever personally seen Jesus or talk to Jesus, we don't know if Saul was one of the spies that the Sanhedrin had sent watching Jesus, but he was a very bright sincere young man but he had been influenced by the religious leaders he had followed all his life, that Jesus was a great deceiver. He firmly believed that, he was very sincere but he was sincerely wrong. Did Saul later known as Paul, was he acquainted with Jesus during Christ's earthly ministry? He certainly was by virtue of headlines, whether he had ever spoken to him before or seen him personally before, we don't know. I think he did. Because it says Jesus was daily in the temple teaching.

When Christ was around Jerusalem, he was going every day and teaching in the temple, he chased the money changers out. I think Saul probably had occasion to see Jesus a time or two. I think he was struggling with an inner conviction. One reason Saul was so varmint about fighting with Christians is because he probably his conscience was bothering him. It sometimes happens that when a person is going through conviction, they try to counteract that by going to the extreme opposite direction. I appreciate your call Mario that's a good question. I do believe, can't prove it, but do believe the Apostle Paul had known about and seen Jesus prior to his conversion. You're listening to Bible answers live.

Pastor Ross: Well, pastor Doug, we're coming up on a break here in just a few moments, but before we take the break, we like to highlight one of the websites that amazing facts has, and at this time of the year, people are talking about the resurrection of Jesus, and when you read the story in the gospels, there is a person by the name of Mary, that is there at the tomb. Now we know Mary the Mother of Jesus is referred to but there's another Mary and we have a website talking about Mary called, marytruth.com.

Pastor Doug: Yes, and this website actually talks about both Mary's. It talks about-- matter of fact, there's a book there that you can request called, The Mystery of Mary the Motherof Jesus. She was at the tomb, and then there's a book called, The Truth About MaryMagdalene. The whole Da Vinci Code scenario that Jesus had some liaison with Mary Magdalene and the baby, is all just a really goofy tradition. It has no rooting in the Bible or even early history. You'll get all the facts on that, just go to marytruth.com. You can listen to the sermons for free online and you can order the material. It would be a real blessing, and pass the link on to others. Don't go away, we're going to have more Bible questions.

[COMMERCIAL BREAK]

Pastor Doug: Welcome back listening friends to Bible Answers live and some have probably joined us in route, this is a live international interactive Bible study. It's basically a Bible study where you can call in any Bible related question and or question about living the Christian life. It's a free phone call, that number, 800Godsays, 800-463-7297. One more time, 800-463-7297. We’ll bring your Bible question into the studio, my name is Doug Batchelor.

Pastor Ross: My name is Jean Ross andwe are ready to go to the phone lines, Pastor Doug, we have Trudy who is listening from Virginia. Trudy, welcome to the program.

Trudy: I enjoy, I listen every day and I enjoy how you break the Bible down so clearly.

Pastor Doug: Thank you, it's a pleasure doing it.

Trudy: [laughs] I have a question, and I hope it makes sense the way I say it. I've been taught about three heavens. The one where God dwells, the atmosphere where we are, and where Satan is allowed to roam and influence people. The Galaxies, stars and all that, I don't know which one that is. The second or whatever. My question is, I just thought about it. Was Satan allowed to go to the third heaven where God's throne is and talk to God after being cast out bout Job and afflicting Job to prove his allegiance to God?

Pastor Doug: That's a good question. In one place, it says Satan is cast out of heaven, and then you read in the book of Job and it says there's a day when the sons of God assemble not on the Earth, because Satan says, "I've come from the Earth." He's obviously not on the Earth, and how can you reconcile this if the Devils cast out of heaven then later it says, that Satan appears to the Lord and these other representatives called Sons of God. Well, God is not restricted to heaven. In the Garden of Eden you read that in the cool of the day the Lord would walk with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.

I think the Lord goes through his universe, he's not imprisoned in some palace in Heaven, God is free to be mobile and He may have been at some other world or some other place. I think heaven and the universe, the cosmos, is a very interesting place. It's going to be remarkable when we get there to see how quickly people travel. I don't think they go by Jet Propulsion, and I don't think they go by beating their wings like a bird, I think that they're going to be traveling the speed of thought. There's things we don't even understand. They got together for a convention somewhere out there and though Satan came to ostensibly represent our Earth.

Trudy: Okay, and who are the sons of God?

Pastor Doug: I'm glad you asked, we're going to give you a book on that. It's a book called, Who are the Sons of God? Are they aliens, angels or adopted? I think the sons of God that you find in the Book of Job are representatives from other worlds. The word sons of God is used in many ways in the Bible. It says for instance, "Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called sons of God." That's in 1st John chapter three. Believers, who are adopted into the family, are also called sons of God. Sometimes even angels are called sons of God.

In the Book of Job, when the sons of God shouted for joy and all the morning stars sang together, when God created the world. We will send you that book, all you have to do is ask for it, Trudy. It's called-- well just ask for the book on the sons of God and our operators will know what that is, and we'll send you a free copy. I think you can also read it for free at our website.

Pastor Ross: The number to call 800-835-6747, you can ask for the book, Who are the sons ofGod? We’ll be happy to send that to you, Trudy or anybody who picks up the phone and gives us a call. The phone number here to the studio is 800-463-7297. If you have a Bible question 800-463-7297. We have Quint who’s listening from South Carolina. Clint, welcome to the program.

Clint: Thank you for taking my call, happy Resurrection Day to you guys. I'm a first time listener and I’ve really enjoyed listening to you both. I’ve been in a car trying to my question.

Pastor Doug: I hope you keep listening. Thank you for calling.

Clint: Thank you. It’s about tithing. I understand giving, I understand that we're on Grace in it, there was an Old Testament law and things but can you give me unique references to in the New Testament? Really, what I’m asking is, what are your thoughts on tithing in the New Testament?

Pastor Doug: That's a good question. I've heard it said before that tithing is an old-- one of the Old Covenant Laws that we as New Testament Christians don't need to worry about. I frankly believe that's inaccurate because tithing appears before the time of Moses, tithing is referred to by Abraham, who of course lived before the 10 Commandments were given or the Levitical laws. Tithing is mentioned by Jacob. Jacob said to the Lord, "If you bring me back, a tenth I will give to thee." And you find that principle even in the New Testament.

Jesus said in Matthew 23:23, "Woe to you scribes and Pharisees hypocrites, for you pay tithes of mint, dill and cumin", those were herbs in the garden, "And you've neglected the weightier matters of the law, justice, and mercy, and faith. These you ought to have done, make sure and keep the priority of justice, mercy, and faith without leaving the other undone." He concludes by saying, "Do not neglect to pay your tithe, but don't pay your tithe and forget about justice, mercy, and faith. That’s a comment Jesus makes.

The thing that I think settles it for me,Quint, is that in the in the New Testament if anything, tithe was considered 10% of your increase.

The New Testament Church went way beyond that. You can read in Acts chapter two, and Pastor Ross might have to help me. I forget the verse, but I can quote it. Where it says that no man said that all that he had was his, but they sold their possessions and gave them for the forwarding of the Gospel. And in Acts chapter 4 and Acts chapter 5 it says, "They were selling houses and lands and bringing them, and laying them down at the Apostles feet for spreading the gospel." They were giving a lot more than 10% tithe I would think would be elementary for a New Testament Christian.

I think that since we're living in a better understanding of the sacrifice not of lambs, but of God's lamb, that the 10% tithe would seem like a small thing for a believer. I would say that's the starting point for a New Testament Christian but really the sacrifice that we make is giving all. It does mean selling everything you have and giving it to the church, but once we give all of ourselves-

Pastor Doug: All right. We do have a study guide, Quint, on that subject, we’ll be happy to send you free copy if you-- I know you’re driving, if you can take this down, it's called, In GodWe Trust. It's got a study from new and Old Testament on tithe and offerings.

Pastor Ross: You can also read that for free online at the amazing facts website. Just amazingfacts.org, or you can call and ask for the free offer which is a study guide called, InGod We Trust. The number is 800-835-6747, and again, the study guide is called, In GodWe Trust. We have Chris who’s listening from West Virginia. Chris, welcome to the program.

Chris: How are you guys doing?

Pastor Doug: Doing well, how about you?

Chris: I'm doing good also grabbed me.

Pastor Doug: Absolutely.

Chris: My question is in Genesis 2:7, we find that the Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground, breathed into his nostrils, the breath of life and man became a living being. We know that the breath and the body make a soul. My problem is when I turn over to , and we also know throughout the body when the spirit is mentioned, it is talking about the breath of life which is what returns to God at death. Hebrews 4:12 says, "Piercing even to the division of the soul and spirit." It’s saying the body and breath, end of the breath? It's not making sense to me. I was hoping maybe you could give me some light on the scripture.

Pastor Doug: Yes, Hebrews Chapter 4 is talking about the Word of God. It says it's quick. It means it's a living and it's powerful and it's sharp and you've got-- in the New Testament, and keep in mind, the Old Testament is written in Hebrew, New Testament is written in Greek. Different languages have more additives and words sometimes to describe things. In the Greek and in the New Testament, they add the understanding that you've got the physical part of your body, then you've got the emotional part of your body that they sometimes refer to as the soul, which is different from the way soul is translated in the Old Testament.

When it talks about the separating of the soul in the spirit in Hebrews, and they're not necessarily talking about the breath, it's talking about, you've got your physical desires and your spiritual desires. Paul talks about the battle between the spirit and the flesh in Romans. He talks about being spiritually minded and being carnally minded and neither of those have to do with the breath of life, you know what I'm saying?

Chris: Okay.

Pastor Doug: You really do have three parts there, you've got the breath of life, then you've got the emotional side, then you get the physical side. Every human shares some things an animal has, we’ve got the basic physical animal desires for food, for rest, and other things, and then you got the spiritual, higher reasoning powers that animals don't have.

Chris: What you’re saying here is this being a part-- the carnal part of it?

Pastor Doug: Yes, the Word of God can apply to the spirit. It speaks to our hearts in a way that it goes beyond the carnal pride part and it speaks to the spiritual part. So you really have the three aspects, I don't know if you have any thoughts on that Pastor Ross.

Pastor Ross: We do have a book dealing with this actually it's a lesson guide, Are the dead really dead? And it talks about the soul, the spirit and also refers to, in the scripture, where it talks about the difference between man and beast and some of those aspects, we'll be happy to send it to you Chris, or anybody who wants to learn more about the subject, just call our resource line it's 800-835-6747, you can ask for the study guide called, Are all the dead really dead? It talks about creation, the differences between man and beast and so on. Also if you have a Bible question, the phone line here at the studio is 800-463-7297, that’s 800-463-7297. We have Kenneth listening on Sirius XM radio from Tennessee. Kenneth, welcome to the program. Kenneth you there?

Kenneth: That is, I think, verse eight through 12 or maybe four through 12, somewhere in there where we talked about after I was-- anyway, my translation. After our Spirit's taken out, I think verse 10 or 12 talks about God will send them strong delusion where they'll . There’s some confusion on that, we got involved with our Sunday school class, can a person be saved and end up to being a part of the bride of Christ after the church is taken out? Or can a person be saved during the rapture, let me say it like that, and be a part of the bride of Christ?

Pastor Doug: All right, well Kenneth, now I just need to be upfront with you, this is a matter of disclosure. There are two primary views about the rapture among Protestant Christians. One is, that the church is in the world during the tribulation and the rapture happens at the end, the other end-- then there are few that believe that the rapture takes place in the middle of it, they're called mid-tribulation, then there are people who believe the rapture takes place before the time of trouble. I just need to let you know that pastor Ross and I are in that group of Christians that believe that the rapture happens at the end of the time of trouble. Meaning that there are not people saved after the rapture and-

Kenneth: You’re .

Pastor Doug: Yes, I'll be happy to give you reasons why we believe that, the Bible tells us that, "He that endures to the end will be saved." And Paul said, "It is through much tribulation we enter the Kingdom of God." The great tribulation, which is what everyone believes happens during the seven years. Right? The Great Tribulation is synonymous with the seven last plagues of Revelation. Everyone agrees with that. Both sides agree with that. When the Ten Plagues fell on Egypt, God's people were still in Egypt but he protected them from the last seven plagues. They were there but he protected them, after the last plague he took them out.

It's after the last plague we are taken out. But we are protected during the time of the plague. I just need to tell you that we believe that we are here during the tribulation, but the church is protected and taken out at the end. A lot of good Christians on both sides, we might just have to respectfully disagree, but we will be happy to send you a book if you like for free and you could take a look at it.

Kenneth: Okay.

Pastor Ross: The book we mention a little earlier called, Anything but Secret, actually talks about the Second Coming of Christ and the rapture and I think you will find it fascinating. Just filled with verses dealing with the subject. For anyone wanting to learn more about this, just call our resource line, the number is 800-835-6747, you can ask for the book Anything but Secret. We would be happy to send it to anybody who calls and asks or read online in amazingfacts.org, and Pastor Doug I think the question was, can anybody be saved after the rapture?

Pastor Doug: Yes, I think about the verse also where it says in Daniel Chapter 12, "At that time Michael will stand at the great prince that stands for the children of thy people, and there will be a time of trouble such as there never has been since there was a nation even to the same time, and at that time thy people will be delivered, everyone who's found written in the book, and many of them that sleep in the dust of the Earth shall awake."

It's saying there's this time of trouble, and then there's a resurrection which is what it says in-- what is that? 1st Thessalonians four. That the Lord will descend, the dead in Christ will rise, we are called up to meet him in the air, and this isn't the second coming. Jesus in John six says the second coming is on the last day. Three times in John six, He says in the last day. That's when the resurrection happens and that's when it's a conclusion of the great time of trouble. I think there's really powerful evidence for the belief that the tribulation happens before the second coming. And by the way, what we believe is what Protestants believed for 1900 years.

The idea of the rapture taking place before the tribulation is about 100 years old, maybe 120 years old. It's not that-- it's a new theology really. Thank you for your question Kenneth I hope that helps a little.

Jacob: Well, I've been reading through Exodus. I'm trying to get through the Bible in one year, and I'm just trying to understand, why did God harden Pharaoh's heart? To be just hardening it, but he could have just snap the fingers and it could have been done and Moses and the Israelites could have left?

Pastor Doug: Well, that's a popular misunderstanding. I'm really glad you're reading through the Bible by the way. There are a couple of verses where God said to Moses, "I will harden the Pharaoh's heart." There are also verses where it says, "Pharaoh hardened his own heart." The reason it says God says I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, God did not reach into pharaoh’s chest and said, "I'm just going to make him stubborn so I can use him to teach everyone a lesson, and he'll be lost but at least I'll teach everyone a lesson." What God did is God sent circumstances. The circumstances of God, the Pharaoh, because he was proud, hardened his heart. And so God said, "I'm going to send some circumstances that I know will harden Pharaoh’s heart." God gives everyone a free will. God did not make Pharaoh be stubborn so he could use him as a pawn.

Pastor Ross: I'm just looking at it here in Exodus chapter eight and nine, there are at least four different references where it says Pharaoh hardened his heart, the plague could come and instead of responding in a spirit of repentance, it says, he hardened his heart and he rebels against God. Then it also says that God hardened Pharaoh's heart in sending the plague. In other words, God sent the plague but Pharaoh chose to respond with an attitude of rebellion, and that's how he's heart was hardened.

Pastor Doug: One way I've heard it explained, Jacob, is that you can have the sun shine on clay and it will harden the clay, and you can have the same sun shine on wax and it will soften the wax. The sun can be blamed for both. It's sending the same ingredients. The circumstances that God sent to Israel and to some of the Egyptians, they humbled themselves, they softened. The Pharaoh hardened his heart. Not only did the Pharaoh harden his heart, you can read through Bible history and many times God's people and some of the kings of Israel harden their hearts. People do it today.

When things happen, instead of humbling ourselves, we harden our hearts. No, God I don't think arbitrarily made Pharaoh stubborn to be lost, I think Pharaoh chose to be stubborn and God sent the circumstances. Appreciate your question on that hope that makes sense Jacob.

Pastor Ross: Our next caller is Mary Jane and she's listening from Michigan. Mary Jane, welcome to the program.

Mary Jane: Thank you, pastor you’re awesome. Hello to both you and pastor Batchelor. My question is in Judges 11:31, "And it shall be that whatsoever cometh from of the doors of my house to meet me when I return in peace from the children of Ammon, shall surely be the Lord's and I will offer it up for burnt offering." Then his daughter comes through the door. Did he offer her off for a burnt offering?

Pastor Doug: No. Let me tell you what happened. If you read it just as it is without understanding the culture, it sounds that way. It can be very troubling.

Mary Jane: Yes, it is.

Pastor Doug: The Hebrews, human sacrifice was an abomination to them. Even the Jews had a law that the firstborn were all to be consecrated to the Lord. Firstborn of animals, firstborn of humans. Jephthah, when he made this vow, he was thinking that when he came home-- I used to have a little ranch and I'd come home and goats would run out to meet me. If you had a small farm, your goats, your ox, it could be anything, would come out. He said, "Whatever it is, I will offer to you Lord."

He thought it might be his oxen which was the most expensive animal he had in a family farm. And his daughter came out and it shocked him and he thought, "I promised to consecrate whatever came out of my gates first." What he did is he consecrated his daughter to the Lord as a sacrifice but not as a burn offering. The same way that Hannah consecrated Samuel. The reason we know that is you read later and it says in verse 38, that the daughters, "Father, do what you promised to the Lord and let me bewail", this is actually verse 37, "let me bewail my virginity."

She was never to marry, she went to the temple as Samuel did, to serve the Lord in the temple the remainder of her life. He would have no offspring through her, and then it goes on to say, "That's why the daughters of Israel", and you can read this in verse 40, "The daughters of Israel went four days each year to lament the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite." They would go and see her every year just like Hannah would come and see Samuel every year at the temple.

By the way, you get to the New Testament and you can read when Jesus was brought as a baby into the temple. That there was a lady there named Anna who blessed the child, who had served the Lord in the temple 80 years from her becoming a widow. She was a very old woman. They had women that were consecrated to serve in the temple in various capacities and that meant that the daughter of Jephthah would never marry.

By the way, this is one reason the Catholics say that nun should not marry. They also understand this. Not that I support nuns not marrying but that's where they get it. I hope that helps. No, he did not offer his daughter as a burnt offering, he gave her to the Lord the way Hannah gave Samuel. Appreciate your question, Mary Jane.

Pastor Ross: Our next caller is Cindy, listening from San Antonio, Texas. Cindy, welcome to the program.

Cindy: Hi there. Hi Pastor Doug.

Pastor Doug: Hi. We've got about two minutes for your question. We'll probably have to make it quick.

Cindy: Okay, just a quick one. Jesus talked about the true sign that it would be the same as Jonah in the belly of the whale, three days and three nights. So should be the son of man in the grave or Son of God in the grave. How do you perceive that in light of Easter weekend? We talk about Good Friday that He died, and Saturday and Sunday, then He rose.

Pastor Doug: I understand the question. If Jesus says in Matthew chapter 12 verse 30 and 39, "As Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the whale, the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the Earth." You'll only find this verse here. In Luke, it doesn't even mention the three days, three nights when he talks about Jonah being the sign.

The heart of the Earth does not mean the tomb, is the answer. For three days and three nights, Jesus was in the hands of the devil that was making him pay the penalty for the sins of the world. Jesus began suffering Thursday night after He was betrayed, He said, "Now is the hour." The mob came and they began to torture Him and abuse Him. He was arrested Thursday night after the last supper. Thursday night, Friday night, Saturday night, Christ was in the heart of the Earth, in the clutches of this world of sin, paying the penalty for sin.

So you have Thursday night, Friday night, Saturday night. It's not talking about three days and three nights in the tomb. Doesn't say the tomb, it says the heart of the Earth, means in the clutches or the midst of the world, He was paying for the sins of the world.

I have a book I'll send you, it's called The Sign of Jonah. You can read it for free online, Cindy. Listening friends, you can tell we've come to the end of the road but before you go away and we sign off, Happy Easter. If you enjoy this program, you'd like to keep us on the air, it's just friends like you that make it happen. The email address, amazingfacts.org, you can donate there. We'd love to hear from you.